“Artist Diego M. Rios designed these sugar skulls and also teaches the craft to others. Diego M. Rios
If you’re looking to step up the authenticity of your Día de Los Muertos, or "Day of the Dead" celebration this year, try your hand at the art of making sugar skulls, also known as calaveras de azúcar. Don’t start licking your chops just yet, though. Although these beautifully decorated creations are typically made of sugar, they’re not for eating. Instead, they are made to adorn altars erected to honor departed loved ones for the occasion.
"The sugar skull is both an expression of artistic beauty and a deeply religious symbol," says Diego Marcial Rios, a California-based artist and sugar skull expert, who frequently lectures on the topic, and also teaches workshops on how to make sugar skulls.
Long celebrated in Mexico, the Day of the Dead has been increasing in popularity the U.S. in the last few years. Some attribute this partly to the success of the 2017 Disney film "Coco," which featured the holiday. "Sugar skulls are more popular in 2019 than in any other time," Rios says, noting that the techniques for making them are still relatively unknown in the U.S.
The Day of the Dead holiday, which begins Nov. 1 and continues through Nov. 2, is a time to remember loved ones who have died by decorating altars (called ofrendas) with their pictures, favorite foods and drinks, as well as with marigolds and elaborately decorated calaveras. The offerings are believed to encourage visits from the departed, which bring good luck to the living. On Nov. 2, families visit cemeteries to spend time cleaning and decorating their loved ones’ graves, using items from the ofrendas.
"The origin of the sugar skulls can be attributed to Italian monks of the 1500s who entered the Mexico region in an attempt to convert native Americans (Aztecs) to Roman Catholic practices," Rios explains. "These old monks brought and taught the native populations how to create ornaments and figures using melted sugar like the practice that had existed in rural areas of Italy in earlier times."
“Sugar candy skulls adorn a tray for a Day of the Dead celebration. Marcie Gonzalez/Getty Images
The Aztecs then employed those techniques to create art to reflect their own culture. "The Native Americans traditionally had used the human skull icon as a symbol of power and rebirth," he says. "Centuries passed and the Mexican people continued the practice."
Rios provided HowStuffWorks with a common formula for a DIY sugar skull. Don’t be too hard on yourself if the first batch is less than stellar, as Rios explains that the process can be very tricky, even difficult at times.
Sugar Skull Recipe
Ingredients
- Pure cane sugar
- Meringue powder
- Water
Equipment
- Mixing bowl and spoon
- Plastic or clay skull mold (these can be purchased easily online)
Directions
- Mix 1 cup (225 grams) of sugar, 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) of meringue powder, and 1 teaspoon of water by hand in a bowl. Squeeze the sugar paste in your hand. Once it keeps its shape, it’s ready to mold. (Repeat to achieve desired quantity.)
- Press the paste into the face of the skull mold and scrape off any excess. Unmold the skull onto a piece of cardboard or wax paper. Repeat with the back of the skull mold.
- Let the skull halves dry at least 24 hours, or until hard.
- Decorate with royal icing.
Royal Icing
- 1 pound (500 grams) of confectioner’s sugar
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) of meringue powder
- 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) of water
- Food coloring
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix slowly with an electric mixer until it forms stiff peaks; the icing should be pure white.
Decorating Your Sugar Skulls
First you need to apply a thin layer of white icing to the flat sides the skull halves to "glue" them together. Let the skulls sit for about an hour to dry. Then you can separate the white frosting mixture into several small bowls and create tons of different colors.
Piping the frosting is the fun part. You can decorate the skulls using a piping bag fitted with decorating tips to create all kinds of unique looks. If you don’t have a piping bag, you can make your own by just snipping the corner off a resealable zip-top bag.
Although you certainly can mimic traditional decorative patterns like dots and swirls, don’t feel artistically confined, as Rios says artists typically decorate the skulls however they feel inspired. Some artists even choose to employ other materials, like tin foil and colored paper, to truly customize the look. The only hard rule is to let the icing dry for at least an hour before setting the skulls out to adorn an ofrenda.
You can find more instructions for sugar skulls at this Hungry Happenings and decorating help at the video below.
Now That’s Cool
Even Mattel is getting in on the Day of the Dead fun. The toy giant announced in September 2019 that a Barbie Dia De Muertos Doll was added to their signature collection of dolls inspired by popular culture. Demand was so high that the doll sold out just one day after release, despite some criticism that the product is little more than cultural appropriation in action.
Originally Published: Oct 22, 2019
Sugar Skull FAQ
What is a sugar skull called?
Another name for a sugar skull is “calaveras de azúcar.”
Can you eat a sugar skull?
Sugar skulls are made of sugar but they are not intended for eating.
What does the sugar skull mean?
Sugar skulls are made to adorn altars and to honor departed loved ones for the “Day of the Dead.”
What is the meaning of a sugar skull?
“The sugar skull is both an expression of artistic beauty and a deeply religious symbol,” says Diego Marcial Rios, a California-based artist, and sugar skull expert.
How is a sugar skull made?
A sugar skull is made with pure cane sugar, meringue powder, and water.
